Humboldt | Toureasterncuba

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park

A fabulous day trip from Baracoa! Start and end in Baracoa City, or visit the park on your way to or from Holguin.

ITINERARY

As one of the most important biosphere reserves in the Caribbean basin, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001. The park gets the most rainfall in Cuba which supports its unique ecosystems and an incredible variety of flora and fauna, many of which are unique to this location.

The 7 km walking trail begins at the River Santa Maria and continues up Mount Iberia to a height of 740 meters. Along the way, you may see hummingbirds, beautiful Polimitas Picta snails with their multi-colored shells, clear-winged Greta Cubana butterflies, small orchids, ferns, and endemic palms.

Enjoy a swim in a natural pool under the 25-meter-high waterfall to make this hike one of your most memorable experiences.

Humboldt National Park Hikes

Sendero El Balcon de Iberia

This trail is 5 km, with a duration of five hours, all on foot. It starts from the first step of the Santa Maria River that leads to Nuevo Mundo. During the tour you can observe the spring of the Santa Maria River, a 25m waterfall, rest under the shadow of the forest and enjoy an energizing bath in El Maja waterfall. You will finish with an adventurous crossing of the Santa Maria River.

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Sendero El Recreo

This trail is 3 km, with a duration of three hours. During the first kilometer, a small hill is crossed through a cubensis pines forest in natural state. You can cross evergreen forest where it is seen species of trees such as quiebra, hacha, acana, a centenary Santa Maria tree and birds of various types. The journey ends up in a bath in a natural swimming pool provide by the Taco River itself.

Sendero Bahia de Taco

This route is a little more than 2 km, lasting about two hours in a rowing or motor boat. It starts from a berth located in the center of Taco Bay, facing the Atlantic Ocean. In the tour you can see ruins of a settlement of North American families established until the end of the 1950s as well as the remains of the old communication route across the bay.

Sendero Loma de Piedra

This trail is 6 km and an approximate duration of six hours with a degree of difficulty from medium to high. The journey begins along an embankment where mangroves, evergreen forests and cultural plantations are appreciated, with a lithological base that conditions the environment cultural values. Then visitors go through natural areas in a good state of conversation, where important faunistic values are stored making the site an important place for biodiversity. At the end, you can enjoy an impressive natural pool designed by the waters of the Taco River, where visitors can enjoy a refreshing bath.

Sendero El Copal

This trail is 3 km with a duration of three hours, suitable for hiking activities. Enjoy the mangroves, forest, and cultural plantations sheltering a great diversity of species of flora and fauna. There is also a place where the road is the limit to the natural vegetation, finding species such as copal, canelon, incense, and a coconut plantation, which enables to know more about the use of coconut in Baracoa.

Ruta Ojito de Agua-Bahia de Taco

This trail is 70 km with an approximate duration of 3.5 days. Once in the Ojito de Agua rustic station, you will visit the Encounter Path with the Toa and La Torre. The route has a generally interesting journey with several attractive options, such as the Toa slopes, which include: El Mulo Hill, Vazquez, and Yarey. During the tour, the visitor will enjoy the cultural diversity of the communities linked to the trails.